Elevator platform ladder



March 7, 1950 c. w. RINGLER ELEVATOR PLATFORM LADDER 3 Sheets$heet 1 Filed July 9, 1947 Inventor Clarence W. Ring/er March 7, 1950 c. w. RINGLER ELEVATOR PLATFORM LADDER Filed July 9, 1947 54 Fig.2.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Clarence W. Ring/er B, 9mm

all/pally Attorneys Filed July 9, 1947 March 7, 1950 c. w. RINGLER 2,499,973

ELEVATOR PLATFORM LADDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Clare nce W. Ring/er elm yawn; E

A time Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in elevator platform ladders.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved elevator platform ladder which will be formed with a foldable frame in which a platform is supported for vertical movement, and manually operable means on said platform, whereby a person standing on the platform may elevate or lower the platform at will by merely operating a cable actuating means disposed on said platform.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved portable and folding wheel supported elevator platform ladder formed with a substantially square frame comprising vertically slotted frame members in which guide wheels on a platform will be disposed, together with a series of cables attached to said platform and to a pair of manuall driven drums also supported by said platform, whereby a person may stand on the platform and rotate an operating wheel connected with said drums for selectively elevating or lowering the platform depending upon the direction the operating wheel is rotated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved elevator platform ladder which will be combined with a rung type ladder, the same being wheel supported to facilitate moving from place to place by one person, foldable, and having manually controlled and operated means on said platform, whereby a person standing on the platform may raise or elevate and lower the same at will, with locking means being provided for locking and securing the elevator platform at the desired elevation.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved elevator platform ladder;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the improved elevator platform ladder;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the improved elevator platform ladder shown in assembled and operative position;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the improved elevator platform ladder with certain parts removed shown in folded position;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the elevator platform of the ladder;

Figure 6 is a view taken on the line 6--6 of s Figure 3 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the elevator platform of the ladder;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view of a corner of the elevator platform showing a supporting or guiding roller disposed in a vertically slotted frame member, and

Figure 10 is a view taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 9.

In the illustrated form of the invention, there is provided an improved form of elevator platform ladder including four hollow square metal supporting frame members I, 2, 3 and 4, and apair of longer ladder rails or support elements 5 and 6, between which the spaced rungs I are secured.

The upper ends of the ladder rails 5 and 6 are formed with arcuate rearwardly extending upper ends 8 and 9 which terminate at the upper ends of the rear frame members 3 and 4 being connected thereto by means of the cross connecting rod Ill. The rod Ill extends through said ends which are held in place by the nuts H and 12 disposed on the opposite ends of the rod Ill.

Stub shafts I3 and I 4 extend through the ladder rails 5 and 6, and pivotally support the shorter front frame members I and 2, and a cross brace is connected between the lower ends of the rear frame members 3 and 4.

Openings [5 are provided through the frame members 3 and 4 for receiving the bottom bracing members I! beside said members 3 and 4 when the ladder is in folded position as disclosed in Fig. 4.

The bracing members I"! are provided with the slots [8, I9 and 25 for use in attaching to the ladder rails 5 and 6, to the front shorter frame members I and 2, and to the longer rear frame members 3 and 4. Wing nuts 2| and 22, and the bolts 23, respectively, are used when the ladder is in assembled or operative position, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Supporting wheels 24 and 25 are mounted on the stub shafts or axles 26 and 2'! at the bottom outside edges of the ladder rails 5 and 5 to permit one person to readily move the ladder from place to place by lifting the front part thereof and rolling it on the wheels. 1

Stub shafts 28 and 29 extend laterally at the lower ends of the ladder rails 5 and 6, and support the bracing members l'!, which are also attached to the frame members I and 2, and 3 and 4, as hereinbefore described.

A substantially rectangular elevator platform 30 is provided at the front and rear of its opr posite sides with the guide rollers 3| and 32, and 33 and 34 adapted to be received in the hollow frame members I and 3, and 2 and 4, respectively for guiding the platform in a level plane when being raised and lowered. Guide rollers 35 and 36 are secured at the upper end of the upwardly extending rear portion 31 of the platform 30, said portions 30 and 31 being hinged together by means of the hinges 38.

Angularly disposed bracing strips 35 and 4B are connected between the outer ends of said portions 30 and 31 to reinforce the platform. These bracing strips are removed when the device is folded to the inoperative condition.

The bracket bearings 4| and 42 are disposed on the opposite sides of the vertical portion 3'! of the elevator platform 30 to support the transversely extending drums 43 and 44 which are grooved to receive the steel operating cables 45 and 46 as they are wound thereon and unwound therefrom.

Sprockets 4'! and 48 are secured to the adjacent ends of the drums 43 and 44 and are connected by means of the roller chain 49 which is disposed over the sprocket gear 50 supported on the shaft 5|. This shaft is mounted between the bearings 52 and 53 on the inner surface of the platform portion 31. A large operating wheel [00 is secured to the inner end of the shaft extending through the cut-out portion 52 of the platform portion 31, and is operated by the laterally extending operating handle 53 attached thereto, whereby rotation of the wheel H10 in one direction will raise the platform and rotation thereof in the opposite direction will lower the platform 30.

Pulleys 54 and 55 are loosely mounted on the shaft or rod l0, while adjacent pulleys 56 and 51 are loosely or freely supported on said rod l0 interiorly of said pulleys 54 and 55. Guide pulleys 58 and 59 are loosely supported on the inner ends of the stub axles l3 and 14 attached to the ladder rails 5 and 6.

The steel cable 45 is attached to the eyes 50 on the front ends of the platform 30 and extends upwardly over the guide pulleys 58 and 59, then over the pulleys 54 and 55 and is secured to the outer ends of the drum 44. The cables 46 are attached to the eyes 6| on the upper edge of the platform portion 31, thence extend upwardly over the pulleys 56 and 51, and downwardly being attached at their ends to theends of the drum 43.

A ratchet wheel 62 is attached to the operating shaft and cooperates with the lockingpawl 63 for locking the elevator platform 30 in the desired adjusted position.

The substantially U-shape brackets 58 are welded to the outer sides of the ladder rails 3 and 4, and each bracket supports one end of a chain 59. Pins are secured to the outer ends of the chains 64 for extending through one of the apertures 65 formed through the bracing bars 67 which are T-shape and provide at each side of the ladder for steadying the same when used on uneven surfaces. An aperture is formed through the upper end of each bar 61 for receiving the toggle pivot pins 65 which are retained in the brackets 63 carried by the frame members 2 and 4, respectively.

If desired, a step ladder may be supported safely on the platform 30 to permit working therefrom at a higher elevation.

While the preferred embodiment of the instant invention has been illustrated and described,

it will be understood that many minor changes in detail of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An elevator comprising spaced front and rear hollow longitudinally slotted frame members, support elements pivotally connected with the upper ends of said frame members, a platform having guide members disposed within said hollow frame members, a connecting rod disposed between the upper ends of said rear frame members, and means on said platform for elevating and lowering the same with respect to said frame members.

2. An elevator comprising spaced front and rear hollow longitudinally slotted frame members, support elements pivotally connected with the upper ends of said frame members, a platform having guiding rollers disposed within said hollow frame members, a connecting rod disposed between the upper ends of said rear frame members, bracing means connecting the lower ends of said frame members and said support elements, and means on said platform for elevating and lowering the same with respect to said frame members.

3. An elevator comprising spaced front and rear hollow longitudinally slotted frame members, support elements pivotally connected with the upper ends of said frame members, a platform having guiding rollers disposed within said hollow frame members, a connecting rod disposed between the upper ends of said rear frame members, bracing means connecting the lower ends of said rear frame members and said support elements, supporting wheels disposed on the lower ends of said rear frame members, and means on said platform for elevating and lowering the same with respect to said frame members.

4. The subject matter as claimed in claim 3, and pulleys on said connecting rod, drums supported on said platform, and means connected between said platform, pulleys and drums for selectively elevating and lowering said platform with respect to said frame members.

5. The subject matter as claimed in claim 3, pulleys on said connecting rod, drums supported on said platform, guide pulleys at the junctures of said front frame members and said support elements, and cables connected with the front and rear of said platform disposed about said pulleys and connected with said drums for selectively elevating and lowering said platform with respect to said frame members.

6. The subject matter as claimed in claim 3, pulleys on said connecting rod, drums supported on said platform, guide pulleys at the junctures of said front frame members and support elements, cables connected with the front and rear of said platform disposed about said pulleys and connected with said drums for selectively elevating and lowering said platform with respec' to said frame. members, sprocket wheels on said drums, a shaft mounted on said platform, a sprocket wheel on said shaft, a chain disposed over said wheels, an operating wheel for rotating said shaft and wheels for operating said drums and platform, and a ratchet and locking pawl on said shaft for locking said platform in the desired adjusted position.

7. In a foldable elevator construction, a pair of rear frame members, a pair of front support elements having their upper ends pivoted to the upper ends of said rear frame members, and

a pair of vertical rails spaced from said rear frame members and pivoted to said front support elements, a shaft secured to said rear frame members, a platform operatively connected with said rear frame members and said vertical rails, and means operatively connected with said shaft and secured to said platform for raising said platform.

8. In a foldable elevator construction, a pair of rear frame members, a pair of front support elements having their upper ends pivoted to the upper ends of said rear frame members, and a pair of vertical rails spaced from said rear frame members and pivoted to said front support elements, a shaft secured to said rear frame members, a platform including a horizontal member and a vertical member hingedly connected therewith, guide elements secured to said platform and guidingly connected with said rear frame members and said vertical rails, and means carried with said platform secured to said platform and operatively connected with said shaft for raising said platform.

9. In a foldable elevator construction, a pair of rear frame members, a pair of front support elements having their upper ends pivoted to the upper ends of said rear frame members, and a pair of vertical rails spaced from said rear frame members and pivoted to said front support elements, a shaft secured to said rear fram'e members, a platform including a horizontal member and a vertical member hingedly connected therewith, guide elements secured to said platform and guidingly connected with said rear frame members and said vertical rails, means carried with said platform secured to said platform and operativelyconnected with said shaft for raising said platform, and a brace having at least one end detachably secured to the horizontal member of said platform and the opposite end secured to the vertical member of said platform to retain said platform members at substantially right angles to each other.

10. In a foldable elevator construction, a pair of rear frame members, a pair of front support elements having their upper ends pivoted to the upper ends of said rear frame members, and a pair of vertical rails spaced from said rear frame members and pivoted to said front support elements, a shaft secured to said rear frame members, a platform operatively connected with said rear frame members and said vertical rails, means operatively connected with said shaft and secured to said platform for raising said platform, rollers disposed at the lower ends of said rear frame members for use in rolling the elevator construction, a platform having guide elements operatively connected with said rear frame members and said vertical rails, pulleys disposed on said shaft, and means operatively connected with said platform and in part guided by said pulleys for raising said platform.

CLARENCE W. RINGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,108,771 McLendon Aug. 25, 1914 1,969,628 Skeenes Aug. 7, 1934 2,310,119 Reinhardt Feb. 2, 1943 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,499,973 March 7, 1950 CLARENCE W. RINGLER It is hereby certified that errors appear in the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

In the grant, lines 1 and 13, name of inventor, for Charles W. Ringler read Clarence W. Ringler;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of July, A. D. 1950.

[SEAL] JOE E. DANIELS,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

